Electrical bracket

ABSTRACT

An electrical bracket is for mounting an electrical device to a wall stud. The bracket includes a frame having first and second opposite end walls and first and second opposite side walls. The bracket further includes a front opening surrounded by the end walls and side walls for inserting an electrical device into the frame. The frame has an end-mounted position in which the first end wall faces the stud. A fastening structure, connected to the frame, is configured to be fastened to the stud when the frame is in the end-mounted position. An extension extends rearward from the first end wall. A stabilizer extends from the extension in a direction away from the second end wall. The stabilizer is configured to abut the side surface of the stud at a location rearward from the side walls when the frame is in the end-mounted position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/939,686, filedSep. 13, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,870,101, hereby incorporated herein byreference, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/662,801, filed Sep. 15, 2003, which issued as U.S. Pat. No.6,812,405.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to electrical brackets and electrical boxes.

BACKGROUND

A low-voltage electrical frame is used to attach an electrical device,such as a cable jack, to a wall stud. This is done by first fasteningthe frame to the stud. Next, the device is inserted into the frame andfastened to the frame with screws.

SUMMARY

An electrical bracket is for mounting an electrical device to a wallstud. The bracket includes a frame having first and second opposite endwalls and first and second opposite side walls. The bracket furtherincludes a front opening surrounded by the end walls and side walls forinserting an electrical device into the frame. The frame has anend-mounted position in which the first end wall faces the stud. Afastening structure, connected to the frame, is configured to befastened to the stud when the frame is in the end-mounted position. Anextension extends rearward from the first end wall. A stabilizer extendsfrom the extension in a direction away from the second end wall. Thestabilizer is configured to abut the side surface of the stud at alocation rearward from the side walls when the frame is in theend-mounted position.

Preferably, the fastening structure is a fastening tab extending fromthe first end wall in a direction away from the second end wall to befastened to a front surface of the stud. The extension is a plate thatis parallel with and extends rearward from the first end wall. Theextension has a pass-through hole for passing electrical wires fromoutside the frame to an electrical device in the frame. The stabilizeris a plate that is perpendicular to the first end wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bracket, shown alongside an electricaldevice that can be fastened to the bracket and also alongside a wallstud to which the bracket can be fastened;

FIG. 2 is a view of the bracket taken at line 2—2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the bracket taken at line 3—3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view of the bracket taken at line 4—4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bracket, shown mounted to the studin a first side-mounted position;

FIG. 6 is a view taken at line 6—6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the bracket, shown mounted to the studin a second side-mounted position;

FIG. 8 is a view taken at line 8—8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bracket, shown mounted to the studin an end-mounted position; and

FIG. 10 is a view taken at line 10—10 of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION

The apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 has parts which, as described below, areexamples of the elements recited in the claims.

The apparatus includes an electrical bracket 10. The bracket 10 is usedfor mounting a low-voltage electrical device, such as a cable jack 12,to a wall stud 14 with front and side surfaces 16 and 18. The bracket 10includes a rectangular frame 20 for enclosing the electrical device 12.The frame 20 is centered on perpendicular longitudinal 21 and lateralaxes 23. The frame 20 has longitudinally-extending first and secondopposite side walls 32 and 34. The frame 20 further hastransversely-extending first and second opposite end walls 36 and 38.The walls 32, 34, 36 and 38 define a cavity 41 and surround a frontopening 43 through which the electrical device 12 can be inserted intothe cavity 41.

The frame 20 can be mounted to the stud 14 in three positions. In afirst side-mounted position of the frame 20, the first side wall 32faces and abuts the side surface 18 of the stud 14. In a secondside-mounted position of the frame 20, the second side wall 34 faces andabuts the side surface 18 of the stud 14. In an end-mounted position ofthe frame 20, the first end wall 36 faces, but is spaced from, the sidesurface 18 of the stud 14. Adjoining the frame 20 are various structuresfor securing the device 12 to the frame 20, attaching the frame 20 to astud 14 and stabilizing the frame 20 relative to the stud 14. Thesestructures are described as follows.

Two mounting bosses 60 extend inward from respective end walls 36 and38, adjacent to the front opening 43. Each boss 60 has a bore 61 forsecuring the electrical device 12 to the frame 20. This is done byinserting two self-threading screws 62 through a yoke 64 of the device12 and screwing the screws 62 into the bores 61.

Each wall 32, 34, 36 and 38 shown in FIG. 1 has a front end 72, 74, 76and 78 located at the front opening 43 of the frame 20. The front ends72, 74, 76 and 78 are defined by edges of the walls 32, 34, 36 and 38.Each of the walls 32, 34, 36 and 38 further has a rear end 82, 84, 86and 88 located at a rear opening 89 of the frame 20.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a length L of the frame 20 is defined by theend walls 36 and 38. A width W of the frame 20 is defined by the sidewalls 32 and 34. A depth D of the frame 20 is defined by and between thefront and rear ends 72 and 82 of the side walls 32 and 34. The rear ends82 and 84 of the side walls 32 and 34 are defined by edges of the sidewalls 32 and 34. However, the rear ends 86 and 88 of the end walls 36and 38, denoted by a dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 4, do not correspond toa visible structural feature. That is due to first and second extensionplates 90 and 91 extending seamlessly from the rear ends 86 and 88 offirst and second end walls 36 and 38. The extension plates 90 and 91extend rearward from, and parallel to, the respective end walls 36 and38 to a location rearward from the side walls 32 and 34.

Each extension plate 90 and 91 has a pass-through hole 92. The hole 92is for passing electrical wires from outside the frame 20 to the device12 in the frame 20. A semicircular first perforation 93 in the plate 90encircles the hole 91 to define a first knock-out 94 that is largerthan, and concentric with, the hole 91. A semicircular secondperforation 95 in the plate 90 encircles the first knock-out 94 todefine a second knock-out 96 that is larger than, and concentric with,the first knockout 94.

A first side tab 102 is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. It extendsorthogonally from the first side wall 32 in a direction transverselyaway from the second side wall 34. The first side tab 102 is configuredto overlie the front surface 16 of the stud 14 when the frame 20 isbeing mounted in the first side-mounted position. A rear surface 103 ofthe first side tab 102 is spaced rearwardly from the front end 76 of thefirst side wall 32 by a distance T equal to the thickness of drywall(not shown) that will overlie the stud 14. This is so that, when the tab102 overlies the front stud surface 16, the front edges 72, 74, 76 and78 of the frame 20 will be flush with the front surface of the drywall.The first side tab 102 has a perforation 104 along its line ofadjoinment 105 with the frame 20. This enables the tab 102 to be removedfrom the frame 20 for applications where the tab 102 is not needed.

A second side tab 112 extends orthogonally from the second side wall 34in a direction transversely away from the first side wall 32. The secondside tab 112 is configured to overlie the front surface 16 of the stud14 when the frame 20 is mounted in the second side-mounted position. Arear surface 113 of the side tab 112 is spaced rearwardly from the frontopening 43 by the distance T equal to the thickness of the drywall. Thisis so that, when the tab 112 overlies the front stud 14 surface, thefront edges 72, 74, 76 and 78 of the frame 20 will be flush with thefront surface of the drywall.

Like the first side tab 102, the second side tab 112 has a perforation114 along its line of adjoinment 115 with the frame 20, as shown in FIG.3. This enables the second side tab 112 to be removed from the frame 20if the second side tab 112 is not needed. The tab 112 has two nail holes118 for fastening the tab 112 to the front surface 16 of the stud 14with nails. The tab 112 further has a staple hole 119 for fastening theframe 10 to the stud 14 with a staple (not shown). The staple can behammered into the stud 14, with one leg of the staple passing throughthe stapling hole 119, and the other leg of the staple passing throughone of the nail holes 118.

An end tab 122 is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. It extends orthogonallyfrom the first end wall 36 in a direction longitudinally away from thesecond end wall 38. The end tab 122 is configured to overlie the frontsurface 16 of the stud 14 when the frame 20 is mounted in theend-mounted position. As with the other tabs 102 and 112, a rear surface123 of the end tab 122 is spaced rearwardly from the front opening 43 bythe thickness T of the drywall. The end tab 122 has nail holes 128 forfastening the end tab 122 to the front stud surface 16 with nails.

A pair of first nail supports 142 and 144 are best shown in FIGS. 1 and3. The first supports 142 and 144 extend from the first end wall 36 in adirection away from the second end wall 36. The supports 142 and 144adjoin the first end wall 36 at transversely opposite sides of the firstend wall 36. Each support 142 and 144 has a groove surface 146 and 148configured to support and retain a first nail 149 in an orientation inwhich the nail 149 extends alongside the first end wall 36 and into theside surface 18 of the stud 14 when the frame 20 is in the firstside-mounted position. Each support 142 and 144 further has a distal enddefined by a stud abutting edge 152 and 154 that is parallel to thefirst end surface 36 and spaced a stand-off distance S from the firstend wall 36. The stud abutting edge 152 and 154 is configured to abutthe side surface 18 of the stud 14 along a transversely-extending lineof abutment that is spaced from the first end wall 36 in a directiontoward the stud 14 when the frame 20 is in the end-mounted position. Thenail supports 142 and 144 thus space the frame 20 longitudinally awayfrom the side surface 18 of the stud 14.

A pair of second nail supports 162 and 164 extend from the second endwall 38 in a direction away from the first end wall 36. The second nailsupports 162 and 164 adjoin the second end wall 38 at transverselyopposite sides of the second end wall 38. Each support 162 and 164 has agroove surface 166 and 168 configured to support a second nail 169 in anorientation in which the nail 169 extends alongside the second end wall38 and into the side surface 18 of the stud 14 when the frame 20 is inthe first side-mounted position.

Two nail retainers 172 and 174 are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Theretainers 172 and 174 extend longitudinally from the second end wall 38in a direction away from the first wall 36. The two nail retainers 172and 174 are transversely spaced from each other and are respectivelyadjacent the two second nail supports 162 and 164. The nail retainers172 and 174 are configured to urge the second nail 169 (FIG. 1) againstthe groove surfaces 166 and 168 of the second nail supports 162 and 164,to retain the second nail 169 in the groove surfaces 166 and 168. Thesecond nail 169 is thus captured between the nail retainers 172 and 174and the groove surfaces 166 and 168.

Two front spacers 182 and 184 are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Theyextend from the first end wall 36 in a direction longitudinally awayfrom the second end wall 38. The front spacers 182 and 184 adjoin thefirst end wall 36 adjacent transversely opposite sides of the end tab112. Each front spacer 182 and 184 is in the form of a plate that isapproximately parallel to the side walls 32 and 34 and orthogonal to theend walls 36 and 38.

Each front spacer 182 and 184 has a stud abutting edge 192 and 194. Thestud abutting edges 192 and 194 extend rearward from transverselyopposite edges 196 of the end tab 112. The stud abutting edges 192 and194 are spaced from the first end wall 36 by the stand-off distance S.Each stud abutting edge 192 and 194 is configured to abut the sidesurface 18 of the stud 14 along a line of abutment when the frame 20 isin the end-mounted position. The front spacers 182 and 184 stabilize andspace the frame 20 longitudinally away from the side surface 18 of thestud 14.

Each front spacer 182 and 184 further has a longitudinally-extendingnail abutting edge 202 and 204. The nail abutting edges 202 and 204 areconfigured to urge the first nail 149 (FIG. 1) against the groovesurfaces 146 and 148 of the first nail supports 142 and 144, to retainthe first nail 149 in the groove surfaces 146 and 148. The first nail149 is thus captured between the groove surfaces 146 and 148 and thenail abutting edges 202 and 204.

Two rear spacers 212 and 214 are best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Theyextend from transversely opposite edges of the first extension plate 90in a direction longitudinally away from the second extension plate 91.Each rear spacer 212 and 214 is a plate that is approximately parallelto the side walls 32 and 34 and perpendicular to the end walls 36 and38.

Each rear spacer 212 and 214 has a stud-abutting edge 222 and 224 thatis parallel to the end surface 36. These stud-abutting edges 222 and 224are spaced the stand-off distance S from the extension plate 90, so asto be coplanar with the other stud-abutting edges 152, 154, 192 and 194.Each stud-abutting edge 222, 224, 152, 154, 192 and 194 is configured toengage the side surface 18 of the stud 14 along a longitudinallyextending line of contact when the frame 20 is in the end-mountedposition. The rear spacers 212 and 214, like the front spacers 182 and184, stabilize and space the frame 20 longitudinally away from the sidesurface 18 of the stud 14.

The frame 20 can be mounted to the stud 14 in the first side-mountedposition as follows. First, the second side tab 112 can, optionally, betorn away from the frame 20 along its perforation 114, because thesecond side tab 112 is not needed for mounting the frame 20 in the firstside-mounted position. Next, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first sidesurface 32 of the frame 20 is held flat against the side surface 18 ofthe stud 14, with the first side tab 102 abuttingly overlying the frontsurface 16 of the stud 14.

The first nail 149 is inserted between the nail abutting surfaces 202and 204 of the front spacers 182 and 184 and the groove surfaces 146 and148 (FIG. 3) of the first nail supports 142 and 144. As indicated by anarrow 231, the first nail 149 is hammered into the side surface 18 ofstud 14. The second nail 169 is similarly inserted between the nailretainers 172 and 174 (FIG. 3) and the groove surfaces 166 and 168 ofthe second nail supports 162 and 164. As indicated by an arrow 232, thesecond nail 169 is hammered into the side surface 18 of stud 14. Withthe frame 20 thus fastened securely to the stud 14, the first side tab102 can, optionally, be broken away from the frame 20 along itsperforation 104. This avoids the possibility of a bulge in the drywallthat later covers the tab 102.

The frame 20 can be mounted to the stud 14 in the second side-mountedposition as follows. First, the first side tab 102 (FIG. 1) can,optionally, be torn away from the frame 20 along its perforation 104,because the first side tab 102 is not needed for mounting the frame 20in the second side-mounted position. Next, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8,the second side surface 34 of the frame 20 is held flat against the sidesurface 18 of the stud 14, with the second side tab 112 abuttingoverlying the front surface 16 of the stud 14. The second side tab 112is fastened to the stud 14 by hammering nails 240 through the nail holes118 of the second side tab 112 and into the stud 14, as indicated byarrows 241.

The frame 20 can be mounted to the stud 14 in the end-mounted positionas follows. First, the side tabs 102 and 112 shown in FIG. 1 can be tornaway from the frame 20 along their perforations 104 and 114, because theside tabs 102 and 112 are not needed for mounting the frame 20 in theend-mounted position. Next, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the frame 20 ispositioned such that the stud abutting edges 152, 154, 192, 194, 222 and224 abut the side surface 18 of the stud 14, and the end tab 122abuttingly overlies the front surface 16 of the stud 14. Next, the endtab 122 is fastened to the stud 14 by hammering nails 250 through theholes 128 of the end tab 122 and into the front surface 16 of the stud14.

As shown in FIG. 1, the bracket 10 further has two fastener loops 260extending rearward from the rear edge 82 of the first side wall 32. Thefastener loops 260 define transversely-extending holes 261. The holes261 are configured to receive screws (not shown) for fastening the firstside wall 32 to a side surface of a stud.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the inventionis defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur tothose skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be withinthe scope of the claims if they have elements that do not differ fromthe literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalentstructural elements with insubstantial differences from the literallanguage of the claims.

1. An electrical bracket for mounting an electrical device to a wallstud, the bracket comprising: a frame having first and second oppositeend walls, first and second opposite side walls, and a front openingsurrounded by the end walls and side walls for inserting the electricaldevice into the frame, the frame having an end-mounted position in whichthe first end wall faces a side surface of the stud; a fasteningstructure connected to the frame, configured to be fastened to the studwhen the frame is in the end-mounted position; an extension extendingfrom the first end wall to a location rearward from the side walls; anda stabilizer extending from the extension in a direction away from thesecond end wall, configured to abut the side surface of the stud at alocation rearward from the side walls when the frame is in theend-mounted position.
 2. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the fasteningstructure is a fastening tab extending from the first end wall in adirection away from the second end wall to be fastened to a frontsurface of the stud.
 3. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the extension isa plate that is parallel with and extends rearward from the first endwall.
 4. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the extension has a pass-throughhole for passing electrical wires from outside the frame to anelectrical device in the frame.
 5. The bracket of claim 4 wherein thestabilizer is a first stabilizer, and the bracket further comprises asecond stabilizer located across the pass-through hole from the firststabilizer and extending from the extension into abutting contact withthe stud at a location rearward from the side walls.
 6. The bracket ofclaim 1 wherein the stabilizer is a plate that is perpendicular to thefirst end wall.
 7. The bracket of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer isconfigured to abut the side surface of the stud along arearwardly-extending line of contact.
 8. The bracket of claim 1 whereinthe stabilizer is configured to abut the side surface of the stud at alocation that is spaced from the first end wall in a direction away fromthe second end wall to space the first end wall from the stud.
 9. Thebracket of claim 1 wherein the stabilizer is a first stabilizer, and thebracket further comprises a second stabilizer, located closer to thesecond side wall than is the first stabilizer and extending from theextension into abutting contact with the stud at a location rearwardfrom the side walls.
 10. The bracket of claim 1 further comprising aspacer, distinct from the fastening structure, extending from the firstend wall in a direction away from the second end wall to abut the sidesurface of the stud to space the first end wall from the stud.
 11. Thebracket of claim 10 wherein the spacer is a fastener support configuredto capture a stud-penetrating fastener that fastens the bracket to thestud when the frame is in a side-mounted position in which the firstside wall faces the side surface of the stud.